Early Settlers Biographies

Oline Borgen (submitted by Tammy Poulson Phillips, printed with permission)

Written by Clarence Borgen, grandson, in 1983.

I can remember the folks talking about immigrating. Grandmother (Oline) Borgen came to the United States from Norway in 1880, with her two sons, Anton and Amund, my father. They settled in Iowa for two years. Then they migrated out to Idaho in 1882, where they took up homesteads. Uncle Anton, was 22 years old at the time so he could take up a homestead, but Amund, my father was only 18 years old at the time. So Grandma took up a homestead for him. That is the farm Arthur, is on now, 101 years later. To the best of my knowledge, Grandma always lived with us. Father rented out the farm when we lost our mother. We lived in Moscow about 9 years. While there father built a new house, but Grandma never got to enjoy it much. While confined to her bed she contracted pneumonia and never recovered from that.

Written by Arthur Borgen 1981

When Oline and her two sons, Anton and Amund arrived in America, they went to Nevada City, Iowa as they had an uncle there. Later they came to Idaho, arriving in Lewiston and staying at the DeFrench Hotel near Genesse, Idaho. They built a cabin there, bought three horses to clear and work their ground. There were many cottonwood trees. They also bought a cow for their milk, butter, etc. Anton and Amund got work at a sawmill at Randle Flats, near Troy, Idaho. They would walk to work on Monday morning (about 18 miles) and walk back at the end of the work week. Oline stayed at the cabin, taking care of the place and milking the cow. She walked about a mile and a half, over to the Ditlef Smith's to store the milk, butter and cream, as they had a cellar. One morning as she was milking the cow, some Indians rode up on their ponies. They circled her, and she was very frightened, but she kept right on milking the cow and acting as if nothing was wrong. Pretty soon they let out a war whoop and rode away. Later, Anton homesteaded land that at the present time is known as the Bill Borgen place, west of Genesse, Idaho.

Oline died on pneumonia after falling and breaking her hip. She was living with her son, Amund, and his two children, Clarence and Gladys, at their home in Moscow. Her doctor was Dr. Gritman and she died at home.

The information on the certificate copy I have says Anton Borgen has been established and duly consummated in conformity to law, for the South East quarter of Section four in Township thirty-seven north of Range five West of Boise Meridian in Idaho, containing one hundred and sixty acres. It is signed in handwriting by President Benjamin Harrison, dated April 29th, 1892.